Packaging



April 1962 c. P. STRAKOSCH, JR., E TAL 3,029,570

PACKAGING Filed May 29, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 (5 5 .i N E T513202 2/6 f2/7 p INVENTOI; L- Z04 2/5) 7 BY LL MLL. ELOQKS ATTORNEY April 17, 1962 c. P. STRAKOSCH, JR.. E rm.

PACKAGING 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1958 BY MMLL. (JO-i LOucs ATTORNEY April 1952 c. P. STRAKOSCH, JR., ETAL 3,029,570

PACKAGING Filed May 29, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Whimsy/6016.104

April 17, 1962 c. P. sTRAKoscl-l', JR.. ET AL 3,029,570

PACKAGING l1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 29, 1958 L. if:

INVENTORS BY KARL. i Loucs ATTORNEY April 17, 1962 c. P. STRAKOSCH, JR., ETAL 3,029,570

PACKAGING Filed May 29, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORS 1W2 W1 M BY 599A; E

ATTORNEY April 17, 1962* c. P. STRAKOSCH, JR., ETAL 3,029,570

PACKAGING INVENTOR5 W 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 L0c'\c,$

Filed May 29, 1958 ATTORNEY A ril 17, 1962 c. P. STRAKOSCH, JR., ETAL 3,029,570

PACKAGING Filed May 29,1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 1o {FEE 204 353 l I L INVENTORS 259 237 f w 5i f BY Kan. UL? LozCS ATTORNEY April 17, 1962 c. P. STRAKOSCH, JR., ETAL 3,

PACKAGING Filed May 29, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 ;265 li'liuunlllmlllll 6 2 m w: m

\-/272 wmmmm 276 y- 7 veg. BY "412 i Loccg ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,029,570 PACKAGING Clarence P. trakosch, Jr., Northvale, N.J., and Edwin K. Sarnith, Jr., Tarrytown, N.Y., and Harry A. Wolter, Akron, Ohio, assignors to Diamond National Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 29, 1958, Ser. No. 738,673 9 Claims. (Ci. 53-64) The present invention relates to packaging and to a machine for applying a cover to a receptacle, and more particularly to a machine which removes covers one at a time from a magazine, applies adhesive to the covers in predetermined areas, places the covers on filled receptacles, inserts the assembled package into a press, presses the cover onto the receptacle to insure setting of the adhesive, and finally extracts the packages from the press.

In the marketing of certain products, it is desirable that a package containing the product be prepared which is made of a few, simple parts which may be readily adhered together to form a securely sealed package to contain the product in the package. In particular, in the manufacture of a package comprising a molded pulp container having charcoal therein, it is highly desirable that the package be assembled with a minimum of noxious or non-burnable materials. Hence, it is desirable that the package be assembled from burnable parts, and further that the pmts be secured together with the minimum amount of adhesive to make a seal which will be secure and dust-proof, this being necessary in order to prevent the package from coming open during shipment or handling so that the charcoal briquettes or pieces will not spill out and also to insure that the charcoal dust, which is inevitably generated by the rubbing together of the pieces of charcoal, is not allowed to escape from the package.

Although many machines of the prior art teach the assembling of a package from a receptacle and a cover, none of the known machines are suitable to perform the functions and to obtain the package discussed above.

t is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine to secure a cover. onto a receptacle to provide a dust-proof package.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a machine which will remove covers one at a time from a magazine, and coat selected areas of each cover with an adhesive before applying the cover to the receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to laterally transfer an object or objects from one position to another.

it is another object of the present invention to provide a machine which will firmly press a cover positioned on a receptacle, reference beinghad in particular to the novel construction of the involved package.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a coating machine to hold a cover of a particular form and to apply adhesive to selected areas thereto, particularly by spraying the adhesive to those areas; to provide a machine for grasping a cover and transferring it from one position to another, and to thereafter release the cover for depositing upon a receptacle; to provide a machine which will function as a part of the machine just mentioned to laterally shift an object from one position to another and then return to its original position in preparation for repetition of the action; and to provide a press which will apply pressure in the necessary areas to a package, and in particular to the peculiar package hereinafter described.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the entire machine in accordance with a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a coating apparatus in accordance with the present invention and takenon the line 66 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the coating apparatus shown in FIG. 6 in an alternate position thereof;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section on line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a transfer apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the press, the package feeding arrangement and the extractor therefor;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view, with parts and sections of the press of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system of the press;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the box nest of the press;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the extractor taken on line l616 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the extractor;

FIG. 18 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the package which the present invention is particularly designed to handle; and

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the package.

The present invention contemplates a machine which has a conveyor on which are transported a number of trays or receptacles filled with charcoal, either in briquette form or in other form. There is also provided a magazine to hold a supply of covers for the receptacle. Covers are removed one at a time from the magazine, and are advanced to a station at which the cover is held and predetermined areas thereof are sprayed with an adhesive.

The cover is then picked up by a pair of grippers depend-" ing from a carriage, and conveyed to a position vertically above a receptacle held stationary on the aforementioned conveyor. At this point the cover is released by the grippers and falls into place upon the receptacle. The grippers are then returned to grasp another cover, and as the second cover is advanced, the first-made package is urged into an opened box nest of the press. Thereafter, the box nest is closed and rotated about a vertical axis, simultaneously with the application of pressure to predetermined parts of the package in order to insure sealing of the cover to the receptacle by the adhesive. The box nest is opened and the completed package extracted therefrom.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there may be seen a magazine 15 for retaining a plurality of covers in stacked array. The bottom-most cover of the stack is removed from the magazine by suction cups and placed on a forwarder slide (not shown) which then transfers the cover to a position overlying the sprayer 16. A part of the sprayer rises to clamp the cover against a stationary plate, and thereafter the cover has adhesive sprayed on predetermined parts thereof. After being sprayed, the cover is moved by transfer apparatus 17 to a point above the conveyor 18. A filled tray or receptacle is supported on the conveyor 18, and when the transfer apparatus has the cover in position above the receptacle, it releases the cover to permit'it to fall a short distance to land upon a receptacle. Thereafter, the transfer apparatus 17 returns to the sprayer 16 to grasp another cover, and to transfer it to a position above the conveyor. As the transfer apparatus 17 advances with the second cover, pusher elements of the article handler close in behind the assembled package, and push or carry it into the press 19. The press 19 has a plurality (in the form shownsix) of box nests 21 which, together with appropriate hydraulic rams, serve to apply pressure to the tray and cover so as to secure setting of the adhesive Lherebetween. The completed package is removed from the box nest 21 by an extractor 22.

The package, which the present invention was particularly designed to assemble, is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In FIG. 18, it may be seen that the package 23 comprises a receptacle or tray 24 having four side walls and an upstanding chimney 25 therein. The cover 26 of the package 23 is of a size and shape to fit upon the tray 24, and has a hole 27 which communicates with the chimney when the package is assembled. In the central cross sectional view shown in FIG. 19, it will be seen that the receptacle 24 and the cover 26 have outwardly extending peripheral flanges at their exterior edges and inwardly extending peripheral flanges about the chimney opening.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a main drive unit 30 may be seen (FIGS. 2 and 3) to be disposed beneath the conveyor 18, a drive unit 30 preferably comprising an electric motor. A sprocket 31 has a chain 32 engaged therewith, chain 32 also being engaged with a sprocket 33 which drives, through gears, the conveyor 18. A second sprocket 34 has a chain 35 engaged therewith, chain 35 being also engaged with a sprocket 36 (FIG. 4). Sprocket 36 is fixed to a shaft 37 mounted in bearing blocks 38 which are supported on the frame 39. Shaft 37 functions as a cam shaft to secure synchronous operation of the following parts of the machine: the cover pull-down device, the forwarder slide, the spray coating apparatus, the cover and package transfer device, and the receptacle escapement.

Covers for the package are maintained in stacked array in the magazine 15, as has been previously noted. The bottom-most cover of the stack is withdrawn from the magazine 15 by suction cups 41, shown in FIG. 4. Suction cups 41 are mounted upon a cross pipe 42 which is in turn mounted upon an upright rod 43. Rod 43 is mounted in guide bearings 44 and 45 which are suported on frame 39. Reciprocating motion is imparted to rod 43 through toggle link 46 and lever 47 which is journaled at one end about a shaft 48 secured in the frame 39. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the lever 47 has a cam follower 49 secured thereto intermediate its ends, cam follower 49 being in engagement with a cam 51 mounted upon the shaft 37 As best seen in FIG. 5, the end of cam shaft 37 has a gear 52 thereon which is in engagement with a gear 53, gear 53 being a timing gear with a hole in it for the supply of vacuum and atmospheric air to suction cups .1. To a housing on gear 53 there are connected eonduits 54 and 55, conduit 54 having its other end engaged with the pipe 42, and conduit 55 being connected with a vacuum pump (not shown) in known fashion.

It will thus be seen that rotation of the cam shaft 37 causes the suction cups 41 to reciprocate, and that timing gear 53 insures the supplying of vacuum 41 at the proper time. It will be understood that when suction cups 41 go up, and the vacuum is applied thereto, they will engage the lowermost of the covers in the magazine 15, and draw that cover downwardly. After the cover has been removed from the magazine 15, it is deposited upon a U-shaped forwarder slide.

U-shaped forwarder slide 56 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is mounted for sliding movement in slide guides 57 and 58, and has depending therefrom a boss 59. Boss 59 is connected through a toggle link 61 with a lever 62 journalled at its lower end upon a shaft 63 secured to the frame 39.

Lever 62 has a cam follower 64 thereon, cam follower 64 being urged into engagement with a cam 65 mounted on cam shaft 37, by means of spring 66. It will thus be seen that as the cam shaft 37 rotates, the forwarder slide will be caused to reciprocate in a generally horizontal plane to and from a position beneath the magazine 15. Forwarder slide 56 has, by virtue of being U-shaped in plan 'forrn, accommodation for the suction cups 41 to extend therethrough; the second position of the forwarder slide is above the sprayer unit 16.

Sprayer unit 16 is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9. In FIG. 6, there may be seen a columnar support 70, which is preferably constructed of multiple pieces as shown. Support has journalled therein a cylinder 71 having an external ring 72 attached thereto at its upper end. Overlying the upper end of cylinder 71 and external ring 72 is a support plate 73 which is connected to the external ring 72 by a pin 74. Support plate 73 has an eccentric hole therein through which extends a pipe 76 which supports a spray gun 77 at its upper end. An internal ring 78 is pin-connected by a bolt 79 with support plate '73, and has secured thereto, as by welding, an internal cylinder 81 which has secured to its lower end a ring 82 and lower support plate 83. It will be understood that the cylinder 81, ring 82 and support plate 83 are secured together in any convenient manner. Lower support plate 83 has an eccentric hole therein aligned with the hole in support plate 73, and the pipe 76 also extends through the hole in support plate 83. Collar 73 is fastened by a set screw to pipe 76 and supports it and spray gun 77 at the proper height for spraying. Collar 83' keeps pipe 76 from freely moving up and down.

Referring again to the upper end of cylinder 71, there is positioned on the upper surface of support plate 73 a slide plate 85 having a plurality of compression springs 86 positioned thereon and guided by pins 87. The upper ends of springs 86 yieldingly support an annular work piece receiving member 88 having a planar upper surface. Attached to and depending from member 38 is a cylinder 89 having an inwardly extending flange 90 at the lower end thereof, flange 90 engaging with the lower surface of external ring 72 to act as a stop to limit upward movement of member 88. A fixed clamp member 91 is disposed above the member 38 for cooperation therewith, as shown in FIG. 7.

Reciprocatory movement is imparted to cylinder 71 by means of a collar 92 fixed to the lower end thereof, collar 92 having a groove into which extends a pair of rollers 98 rotatably mounted at the ends of a pair of levers 97. Levers 97 are rigidly secured to a rockershaft 99 journalled in the frame 39. One of the levers 97 has an extension 93 for supporting a cam follower 94 which is in engagement with a cam 95 fixed to the cam shaft 37. A spring 96 attached to extension 93 and the frame 39 constantly urges cam follower 94 into engagement with cam 95.

Oscillatory movement is imparted to cylinder 71 from a rack 1100 which is in engagement with a pinion 101 affixed to a shaft 102 carrying at its upper end a gear 103 in mesh with a gear 104 carried by a shaft 105. On the lower end of shaft 105 is a gear 106 which is in mesh with a gear 107 affixed to the lower end of cylinder 71 above the collar 92. Thus, reciprocation of rack 100 will cause oscillatory movement of cylinder 71 through this gear train. It will be noted that gear 106 has sufiicient axial extent to insure engagement therewith of gear 107 in any position of the latter which it may assume during the reciprocatory movement of the cylinder 71.

A flange 110 (see FIG. 8) is integrally cast with support 70 and has four arms 111, 112, 113 and 114 extending radially therefrom. Each of the arms 111, 112, 113 and 114 has a horizontal slit therein and supports a sleeve 1 15 (see arm 114 of FIG. 6) in which is journalled a shaft 116 carrying at its upper end a sprocket 117. Other sprockets 118, 119 and 120 are supported in like manner, and in a common plane; a chain 121 is in operative engagement with the sprockets 117, 11 8, .119 and 120, and carries a pair of upstanding pins, one of the pins 122 being shown near the sprocket 119 in FIG. 6. The lower end of shaft 116 is connected by suitable universal joint means 124 with the shaft 165, so that upon reciprocation of rack 160, chain 121 will be caused to travel through its path defined by the four sprockets 1 17, 118, 119 and 120.

Revolvably mounted upon support 70 above the flange 110 is a yoke 1 25 having two oppositely extending arms 126 and 126 (as seen in FIG. 9). These arms are identical, so that only one will be described. Arm 126 has a post 127 mounted thereon, and journalled upon post 127 is a support bracket 128 which carries at its outer end a spray gun 129. Spray gun 130 is supported by identical mechanism on arm 126. Each of the spray guns 129 and 130 has an axially extending socket in the lower part thereof, which is concentric with the spray nozzle, and the aforementioned pins 122 (of which there are two) are received in these sockets.

It will thus be seen that the chain 121 defines a path which is generally square, and has rounded corners. This is the exact shape of the external periphery of the cover 26. As the chain is caused to move through its course, it carries the spray guns 129 and 130 along by virtue of the two pins 122 in engagement with the sockets of the spray guns, thus causing the spray nozzles to traverse the same path as the chain. The spray guns are thus caused to pull along with them the yoke 125 so that it rotates about support 70 and, in addition, because of the rotational connection of bracket 12% with the post 127, the spray guns 12.9 and 1311 may occupy different radial positions from the center of support 7th as they traverse about the support 70.

When the cam 95 causes the lever 93 to raise the cylinder 71, the member 88 will be urged upwardly by the spring 86 to clamp a cover between the member 83 and the clamping member 91. In addition to spraying the exterior margin of the cover by the manner noted above, rotation of cylinder 71 will cause rotation of eccentrically mounted spray gun 77 so that the inner circular periphery of the cover 2-6 is also spray coated. Upon continued rotation of the cam 95, the member 83 will be lowered to release the cover that has been sprayed.

The end of rack 11M) opposite to that which engages with pinion 101 carries a cam follower 132. which engages with a groove in the face of cam 133, as best shown in FIG. 5. Cam 133 is rotatably mounted on cam shaft 37 and is driven by means of gear 52 engaging with a gear 134 on counter shaft 135, counter shaft 135 carrying in addition thereto a second gear 136 which engages with a gear 137 which is fixed to cam 133 and is also revolvably mounted upon cam shaft 37. The purpose of the arrangement just described is to provide a one-to-two movement of these spray guns with relation to the remainder of the apparatus. Thus, on one cycle of the machine, each of the spray guns 129 and 1311 will start from a position midway of a first side of the generally square-shaped pattern above referred to, will travel to and around a corner along a full side at right angles to the first side, around a second corner, and half way along the third side, which is parallel to the first side. On the next cycle of the machine each of the spray guns will traverse the same pattern, but in the opposite direction.

The cover and package transfer unit 17 is shown in FIG. and is supported on vertical support plates 146 and 141. Between support plates 140 and 141 there extends a guide and support rail 142 which has slidably mounted thereon a pair of bearing members 143 and 144 which are attached to and support a carriage 145. Carriage 145 is caused to move to and fro along rail 142 by rod 145 which is rotatably journalled thereto. The

. 6 mechanism for imparting motion to rod 146 will be set forth below.

Journalled in the plates 14%! and 141 are four control shafts 147, 148, 149 and 1511, these shafts being noncircular, preferably square, in cross-section. The ends of these four shafts nearest the magazine 15 extend through the support plate 141) and each has a bevel gear 147, 148, and 150', respectively, secured thereto. A pair of plates 152 and 153 are secured in parallel fashion to support plate 140, and between the plates 152 and 153 there extend a pair of control shafts 154 and 155, control shaft 154 having a pair of bevel gears 154 engaging the bevel gears 14-7 and 148, and the control shaft 155 having a pair of bevel gears 155 engaged with the bevel gears 149 and 150'. Control shaft 154 has a fork member 156 secured to the end thereof, to which is pivotally secured a control rod 157. Similarly, the control shaft 155 has a fork member 158 secured thereto, this member being pivotally connected to a control rod 159. The mechanism which imparts movement to control rod 157 and 159 will be described below.

Depending from the carriage 145 intermediate its length on each side thereof are a pair of ears 160 and 161. Bar 160 is apertured to rotatably receive shaft 148, and ear 161 is similarly apertured to receive shaft 14-7. The ears 161} and 161 are furcated and receive between the parts thereof gripper members 162 and 163. These gripper members each has an aperture therethrough of similar cross-section to the cross-section of the shafts 147 and 148. Thus, it may be seen that rotation of shafts 147 and 148 will cause the gripper members 162 and 163 to open and close.

Depending from the part of carriage member 145 nearest to plate 141 are a pair of ears 164 and 165, each of them having an aperture therethrough to receive the shafts 148 and 147, respectively, these apertures permitu'ng free rotation of the shafts therein. The lower ends of ears 164 and 165 are furcated and apcrtured in a manner similar to the ears 160 and 161; the shafts 149 and 150 extend through these lower apertures of ears 165 and 164, and also through non-circular apertures in pusher members 166 and 167. Rotation of shafts 149 and 150* will cause the pusher members 166 and 167 to open and close. It is to be understood that although the elements 166 and 167 are referred to as pusher members, they may be fashioned to either push or grip as may be desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, it may be seen that control rod 146 extends generally horizontally from the carriage 145 and has at its other end a pivotal connection with an arm 170 which is fastened to a shaft 171 journalled in the frame 39. Also fastened on shaft 171 is another arm 172 which is connected with a lever 173 by means of a rod 174. Lever 173 is journalled at its lower end to the frame 39, and has intermediate its ends a cam follower 174 engaged in a groove in a cam 175. Cam 175 is fastened to cam shaft 37, so that upon rotation thereof the lever 173 will be caused to oscillate about its lower end causing in turn oscillatory movement of the arms 172 and 170, and the reciprocation of carriage 145. 1

Control rods 157 and 159 have motion imparted to them be substantially identical means, so that only one is shown and described, for purposes of clarity. In FIG. 2, it will be seen that control rod 159 extends generally downwardly, and at its lower end is pivotally connected with a lever 176, lever 176 being pivotally mounted at its other end to a shaft 177 carried by the frame 39, and having intermediate its ends a cam follower 178. Cam follower 178 engages with a cam 179 fixed to the cam shaft 37. Similarly, control rod 157 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a lever 180 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 177, and which has a cam follower 181 intermediate its length. Cam follower 18-1 contacts earn 182 fixed to the cam shaft 37. It will thus a be seen that as the cam shaft 37 rotates, motion will be imparted to control rods 157 and 159 to cause rotation of the control shafts 154 and 155, respectively, and through them and the non-circular shafts 147, 148, 149 and 150, the gripper members 162 and 163 and the pusher members 166 and 167.

In its rearmost position, that is, the position shown in FIG. 10, the carriage 145 overlies the sprayer unit 16, a slot being provided in carriage 145 in order to permit carriage 145 to attain that position without interference with clamp member 91. In this position, the gripper members 162 and 163 are caused to move toward each other to thereby grip between them a cover 26 which has been properly coated by the spray unit 16. The carriage 145 is then caused to move forward by control rod 1 16 until it is over a tray 24 positioned on the conveyor 18. When the cover 26 is positioned over the tray 2 the gripper members 162 and 163 are caused to move apart, thus releasing the cover 26 and permitting it to fall a short distance into engagement with the top of tray 24. Alternatively, a spring may be arranged to push the cover downwardly. Thereafter, the carriage 145 is returned to its position above the spray unit 16, where the gripper members 162 and 163 grip another cover 26. As the carriage 145 moves forward, the pusher members 166 and 167 are caused to move toward each other to either grasp or to get behind the package comprising the first cover 26 and the tray 24, and to move this package forward. This action moves the assembled package into the press, as seen in FIG. 2. Upon return movement of the carriage toward the spray unit 16, the pusher elements 166 and 167 are caused to spread apart in order to avoid striking the next tray 24 which has advanced to a position below the transfer apparatus 1'7.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be seen that power is supplied by power source 30 by means of a coupling 183 to gear box 134 wherein the output shaft is vertically disposed so that ultimately power is supplied to horizontally arranged sprockets 185 and 186 mounted on the output shaft of gear box 134.

In FIG. 11 there may be seen the conveyor 18 for the filled containers or trays 24, the lid and package transfer apparatus 17, and the press 19. As the filled trays 24 are moved along by and on the conveyor 18, they are permitted to advance, continuously moving one at a time, by an escapement mechanism generally designated 187 and comprising a pair of arms 188 carried by a vertically extending shaft 139 which is caused to oscillate by the cam 190 on cam shaft 37. Cam 190 actuates a lever 191 (FIG. 4) pivotally attached to frame 39 and having an arm 192 extending to the shaft 189. Upon release of a tray 24 in proper synchronism with the remainder of the operations of the machine, by the escapement mechanism 187, the tray 24 will be carried along by the conveyor 18 until it comes to rest and is stopped by fence 193 overlying conveyor 18. A microswitch 16d overlies conveyor 18, and upon an absence of trays thereon, energizes solenoid valve 169 in vacuum conduit 54 to disable the suction cups 41.

Press 19 is of the rotary hydraulic type and has a plurality, preferably six, of press units or box nests 21. In FIG. 12, the press 19 may be seen to comprise a vertically extending hollow support 194 having a turntable 195 rotatably mounted thereon. Turntable 195 has a large sprocket 196 secured thereto and a chain 197 extends about the sprockets 185 and 196 to serve as a link in the power train from power source 30 to the tumtable 195. A collar 198 supported on the turntable 195 supports the bottom and sides of the six box nests 2.1. At the upper end of the turntable 195 there are secured a pair of horizontally extending annular discs 199 and 200. These discs have extending between their outer peripheries support plates 2111 to which are secured six hydraulic jacks 202, only one being shown in FIG. 12. The ram of hydraulic jack 202 carries top 2% of the box nest 21. A hydraulic jack 204 is supported beneath the hydraulic jack 202, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Above the support 194 and in axial alignment therewith is a hydraulic fitting 205 having an inlet 206 which is adapted to be supplied with oil under pressure. A swivel joint 207 connects the fitting 265 with inlet conduit 208. Inlet conduit 2118 is fluid connected to a header 209 which extends in an arc about the axis of support 194 and between the disc 199 and 200. From header 209 a conduit 211 extends to a valve 212, and a conduit 213 extends from the valve 212 to the hydraulic jack 202.

A complete showing of one station of the hydraulic system is shown in FIG. 13, wherein the inlet pressure header 299 may be seen to be connected through a check valve (not shown in FIG. 12) to a valve 212, together with the conduit 213 which is connected with the hydraulic jack 202. Conduit 213 is also connected with a sequence valve 214 which is connected by conduit 215 with the hydraulic jack 204. To the other sides of the hydraulic jacks 202 and 204 there are connected conduits 216 and 217, respectively, which are fluid connected with return line 218 through the valve 212. Return line header 218 may be seen, in FIG. 12, to be connected through a conduit 219 to a pipe 220 which extends axially through hollow support 194 and is connected at its other end with the source of hydraulic fluid (not shown).

The valve 212 is spring-urged, and is operated by a earn 222 secured to the upper end of support 194. In the position in FIG. 13, fluid under pressure will pass through the conduit 211, the valve 212, conduit 213 and into the upper part of hydraulic jack 202 to force the ram thereof downwardly. After a predetermined pressure has been obtained in conduit 213, valve 214 will permit fluid to pass therethrough to the hydraulic jack 2%, to force the ram thereof upwardly. Upon continued rotation of the turntable 195, the cam 222 will shift the valve 212 so that pressure is supplied to the under side of hydraulic jack 202 and to the upper side of hydraulic jack 2114. This will cause the ram of hydraulic jack 262 to rise and to force liquid through conduit 213 to the return line 213. Also, the ram of hydraulic jack 204 will be forced downwardly and fluid in the lower part thereof will be forced through conduit 215 and valve 214 into conduit 213, and thence into the return line.

FIG. 12 discloses, in addition to the earn 222, also a circumferentially extending box nest front door opening earn 223 and a box nest side opening cam 224, the latter two cams also being mounted upon the support 194.

In FIG. 14, the box nest 21 is shown in plan view and comprises fixed side and back walls 230 and 231. In FIG. 15, there may be seen a box nest bottom 232 integral with the back wall 231 and also with a vertically extending attachment flange 233 in engagement with the collar 198. The front door 234 of the box nest 21 is mounted upon a horizontal shaft 235 which is journalled in the parts of the box nest 21 which are integral with the attachment flange 233. Shaft 235 has fixed to one end a pinion 236 which is in mesh with a rack 237. Rack 237 is guided in a sleeve 238 attached to the side 230 of box nest 21, and the rack 237 has attached to its lower end a cam follower 239 which is urged into engagement with cam 223 by a spring 249. In FIG. 14 there may be seen at one end of back wall 231 a bushing 242 containing a shaft 243 to which is secured side wall 244. An arm 2 55 carrying on its free end a cam follower 246 is connected with the shaft 243, the cam follower 246 being adapted to engage the circumferentially extending cam 224- which may be seen in FIG. 12.

The bottom 232 (see FIG. 15) has a plurality of apertures 250 therein through each of which extends a stud 251 which has an adjustable collar beneath the bottom 232. As may be seen from FIG. 14, there are four such apertures and studs. The upper end of each of the studs 251 supports a false bottom 252 between which and the bottom 232 there is a spring 253 encircling each of the studs 251. The bottom 232 has an aperture 254 centrally thereof, the aperture 254 being in alignment with an aperture 255 located centrally in the false bottom 252. The ram of hydraulic jack 204 having a plunger 204 is in alignment with the apertures 254 and 255, and the plunger 204 moves upwardly through the apertures to contact the underside of a central flange of the assembled package 23.

The top 263 of box nest 21 is carried by hydraulic jack 202. The upper interior walls of the box nest 21 are each chamfered, as shown in FIG. to match the shape of the package 23 which may thus be forced downwardly into the box nest 21 and the outwardly extending peripheral flanges come to rest on the upper surface of the walls of the box nest 21, and become pressed between this upper surface and the top 203.

It will be understood that as the press 19 revolves and a box nest 21 comes into position opposite article handler 17, the front door 234 and side 244 thereof will be opened and an assembled package 23 will be placed in the box nest 21 on the false bottom 252 by members 166 and 167. Thereafter, the front door 234 and side door 244- will be closed by the associated cams and spring. As the box nest 21 is rotated, the top 203 will descend under the impetus of hydraulic jack 202 and Will force the package 23 downwardly against the resistance of the springs 253, this, of course, forcing the false bottom 252 downwardly and forcing the underside of the peripheral flange of package 23 into contact with the upper surface of the Walls of the box nest 21. This clamping action will insure the securing together of the cover 26 and tray 24 at the outer peripheral flange. Hydraulic jack 264 will then move plunger 204' upwardly. Thereafter, the top 263 and plunger 204' will be withdrawn and the front door 234 and side door 244 will be opened. The package will then be extracted from the box nest 21 by the extractor 22.

The ejector seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 is driven by a chain 263 from the sprocket 186, the chain being also in mesh with a sprocket 262 mounted on a shaft 261.

The ejector 22 (FIGS. 16 and 17) has a base plate 266 in which is journalled a shaft 261 having at a lower part thereof a sprocket 262. A chain 263 is in engagement with the sprocket 262 and also with the drive sprocket 186. On the upper end of shaft 261 there is mounted a earn 264 which is positioned between cam follower pins 265 and 266 depending from a slide bar 267 which is carried by upstanding posts 268 and 269. The end of slide bar 267 has fixed thereto a rack 271 which is in engagement with a pinion 272 mounted on the post 273 extending upwardly from the base plate 260. Also mounted on the post 273 and secured to the pinion 272 is a gear 274, which is just beneath upper plate 276. Upper plate 270 supports the post 273 at its upper end. Gear 274 engages the pinion 275, secured to a shaft within tube 276, which latter is supported on base plate 266, extends through the upper plate 270 and is journalled at its upper end in a plate of box structure 280. The upper end of the shaft within tube 276 has secured thereto a pinion 277 which has a rack 278 in engagement therewith, the rack 278 having a cross member 279 secured to the underside of one end thereof. Plate 260 is secured to a part of the machine frame (not shown), and box structure 280 serves as a restraining guide for rack 27 8.

In operation, rotation of sprocket 186 will cause rotation of the shaft 261 through the sprocket 262 and chain 263; this will cause rotation of the earn 264 to oscillate the slide bar 267 by means of the pins 265 and 266, the slide bar being guided in the posts 268 and 269. Oscillation of slide bar 267 will in turn cause oscillation of the rack 271 to rotate the pinion 272, gear 274, pinion 275, shaft 276 and pinion 277. This will cause oscillatory movement of the rack 278 and the cross member 279.

Thus, in properly timed relationship, the cross member 279 will be caused to engage with the upper part of a completed package, and slide it out of the box nest. Because the cross member 279 is at a lower level than the rack 278, the rack 278 will pass over the package without interference.

Alternatively, a plow, not shown, may be arranged in known fashion to cause the completed package 23 to move out of the box nests 21.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for assembling a package comprising an annular tray and an annular cover, said tray having inner and outer portions adapted to be engaged by a cover, said annular cover having inneer and outer tray engaging portions, said machine comprising a conveyor for said trays, means for holding a supply of covers, means to remove a cover from said holding means, means for applying adhesive to two concentric tray engaging portions of said cover, means to place said cover on a tray and a press adjacent said conveyor, means for inserting the assembled tray and cover into said press, means to cause said press to press said tray and cover together, means for extracting said tray and cover from said press, and means for driving said conveyor, said press and said several means in phased relationship. a

2. A machine for assembling a package comprising a continuously moving conveyor for trays, said conveyor adapted to have a plurality of trays thereon in close serial array, an escapement device operatively associated with said conveyor to permit the advance of one tray at a time, a stop member extending across and closely above said conveyor downwardly of said escapement device whereby a tray released by said escapement device will be held by said stop member as said conveyor continues to move, means for holding a supply of covers, means to retain a cover and to apply adhesive thereto, means to remove a cover from said holding means and to transfer it to said retaining means and adhesive applying means, means to transfer a cover from said last-mentioned means to a tray held by said stop member and means for moving an assembled tray and cover in a direction generally normal to the said conveyor to thereupon move the assembled tray and cover into a press therefor.

3. A machine for assembling a package comprising a continuously moving conveyor for trays, said conveyor adapted to have a plurality of trays thereon in close serial array, an escapement device operatively associated with said conveyor to permit the advance of one tray at a time, a fixed stop member extending across and closely above said conveyor downwardly of said escapement device whereby a tray released by said escapement device will be held by said stop member as said conveyor continues to move, means for holding a supply of covers, means to retain a cover and to apply adhesive thereto, means to remove a cover from said holding means and to transfer it to said retaining means and adhesive applying means, means to transfer a cover from said l-ast-mentioned means to a tray held by said stop member, a press adjacent said conveyor, means to move an assembled tray and cover into said press, and means to remove a tray and cover from said press from the position of said assembled tray and cover on said conveyor at said stop member.

4. In an article handler, longitudinally extending support means, a carriage slidably mounted on said support means, a shaft extending parallel to said support means, a gripper member pivot-ably mounted on said carriage with the axis of movement thereof coincident with the axis of said shaft, means to translate said carriage, and means slidably and non-rotatively connecting said shaft and said gripper member for pivotal movement of said gripper member at any position of said carriage upon rotation of said shaft.

5. In an article handler, longitudinally extending support means, a carriage slidably mounted on said support means, a pair of oppositely disposed gripper members pivotally mounted on said carriage, a pair of shafts extending parallel to said support means, each of said shafts having the axis thereof coincident with the pivotal axis of said gripper members, means slidably and non-rotatively connecting each of said shafts with one of said gripper members for rotation of said gripper members upon rotation of said shafts, means to translate said carriage and means to rotate said shafts.

6. In an article handler, longitudinally extending support means, a carriage slidably mounted on said support means, a pair of shafts of noncircular cross-section extending parallel to said support means, a pair of gripper members pivotally mounted on said carriage in opposed relationship and each having a collar slidably mounted on one of said shafts and of cross-section similar to said shafts, means to translate said carriage, and means to rotate said shafts.

7. In an article handler, longitudinally extending support means, a carriage slidably mounted on said support means, means for moving said carriage along said support means including a link pivotally connected thereto, a pair of gripper members, means mounting said gripper members in spaced relation on said carriage for pivotal movement about axes parallel to said support means, a pair of square shafts parallel to said support means and each lying along one of said axes, a square aperture in each of said gripper members each slidably receiving one of said square shafts therein, a rock shaft extending transversely of said square shafts, and means connecting said square shafts to said rock shaft for rocking motion upon rocking of said rock shaft.

8. In an article handler, longitudinally extending support means, a carriage slidably mounted on said support means, power means remote from said support means, linkage means connecting said carriage and said power means for movement of said carriage along said support means, said support means including a link pivotally connectcd thereto, a pair of non-circular shafts parallel to said support means and each lying along one of said axes, a corresponding non-circular aperture in each of said gripper members each slidably receiving one of said shafts therein, and means connecting said shafts and said power means for simultaneous rocking movement of said shafts.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 2 and further including microswitch means associated with said conveyor to sense the absence of trays thereon at said escapement device, said cover removing means comprising a vacuum powered suction cup, disabling means for said cover removing means comprising a solenoid valve electrically connected to said micro switch means and fluid connected to said suction cup, whereby upon an absence of trays on said conveyor at said escapement device said solenoid valve will prevent the removal of a cover from said cover holding means by said suction cup.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,601,156 Adelmann Sept. 28, 1926 1,608,617 Reifsnyder Nov. 30, 1926 2,029,299 Anderson Feb. 4, 1936 2,066,259 Everett Dec. 29, 1936 2,081,912 Coppins June 1, 1937 2,152,339 Anderson Mar. 28, 1939 2,176,251 Duhan Oct. 17, 1939 2,182,472 Ferngren Dec. 5, 1939 2,397,482 Grifiin Apr. 2, 1946 2,520,727 Keith et al Aug. 29, 1950 2,550,292 Platt et a1 Apr. 24, 1951 2,551,477 Vore May 1, 1951 2,613,823 Johns Oct. 14, 1952 2,652,963 Pomeroy Sept. 22, 1953 2,662,646 McCain Dec. 15, 1953 2,712,405 Rockcastle July 5, 1955 2,743,859 Negoro May 1, 1956 2,781,136 Sehn et a1 Feb. 12, 1957 2,842,913 Maridin July 15, 1958 2,899,782 Haidegger Aug. 18, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,772,658 Germany Dec. 4, 1956 

